El Niño to intensify and persist through February 2027: WMO alert

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has cautioned that El Niño conditions prevailing over the equatorial Pacific are likely to intensify into a very strong event in the coming months and remain entrenched through February 2027. The phenomenon poses significant risks to weather patterns and climate-sensitive sectors worldwide.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo underscored the potential severity of the situation in a statement on Thursday. "El Niño in Spanish means boy child, but it has the potential to deliver a massive blow to communities and economies across the world," she said. "We are already seeing disruption and devastation from droughts and floods, and we expect these impacts to increase as El Niño intensifies."

The WMO's projections align with forecasts from India's meteorological authorities. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has similarly indicated that El Niño conditions could persist through February 2027, signalling potential challenges for the country's monsoon-dependent agricultural economy and water resources.

El Niño is one phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a major climate pattern that influences global weather systems. The phenomenon can substantially alter rainfall distribution and temperature regimes, heightening the likelihood of flooding in some regions and severe drought conditions in others, alongside risks of extreme heat events. Governments and disaster management agencies across South Asia are expected to intensify preparedness measures in response to these forecasts.